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Learning path · Shooting on film

65mm, 70mm and IMAX

Large format: 65mm capture, 70mm and IMAX prints, the cameras, the lab and the projection booth, through the DoPs who use it.

Free films in teaching order, for one craft. Watch, tick them off and test yourself. It's practice that prepares you for an Academy course. This one prepares you for Camera department Foundation.

16 lessons · About 4 hours · New to set to working crew · Not started

Lesson 1

Film Formats Explained — A Guide for Filmmakers & Film Fans

StudioBinder · 12:36 · original on YouTube

You will learn: Name every film format from 8mm to IMAX and what each is used for.

Note: US source: UK practice, law and terms differ. Check the UK guidance (HSE, Film London, the Production Guild). StudioBinder overview.

By the end you will be able to

  • Tell 65mm, 5/70, 15/70 IMAX, Ultra Panavision 70 and VistaVision apart
  • Describe how IMAX and 65mm cameras are used on set and what limits them
  • Explain a large-format lab, scan and print workflow
  • Describe how 70mm and IMAX film is projected

Test yourself

Could you do it on a set?

4 real situations, one for each thing this path teaches. It's optional practice, not pass or fail, and your answers stay on this device.

What's the difference between 65mm and 70mm?

What does '15/70' mean in IMAX?

Why are IMAX film cameras hard to use for dialogue scenes?

What's special about a large-format film workflow after the shoot?

Next: do it for real

This path prepares you for Camera department Foundation.

Eight lessons in the order a camera trainee meets the job: safety, who's who, prep, kit care, slates and camera reports, media, lenses and marks.

It's free and open in the pilot. Finish it to book a competency check, then a practical on our unit.

Start Camera FoundationBook a competency check

How learning with FIF works

Learning path. Free films in teaching order, for one craft. Watch, tick them off and test yourself. It's practice that prepares you for an Academy course.

  1. Learn onlineFree films, paths and Academy coursesYou are here
  2. Competency checkA short check with us, online or in person
  3. In-person practicalOn our unit at Pinewood or 3 Mills
  4. FIF CertificateFrom the practical only

The FIF Certificate comes only from the practical. How it works · Book a competency check

More on this

10 items

Go further

Beyond YouTube, labelled honestly. Free first. Paid options are labelled.

  • FotoKem Free to browse
    FotoKem. US lab behind most large-format features; good reading on 65mm workflow.
  • Kodak camera films (technical data) Free
    Kodak. Data sheets for every Vision3, Double-X and Ektachrome stock.
  • Panavision Free to browse; hire is paid
    Panavision. Ask the UK office about film camera availability and prep days for students.
  • British Society of Cinematographers Free to browse; events vary
    BSC. UK cinematographers' society; BSC Expo is the best place to see film cameras and meet rental houses.
  • BFI IMAX, Waterloo Paid (cinema tickets)
    BFI. The UK's biggest screen; check listings for 70mm film screenings.
  • Widescreen Weekend Paid (festival tickets)
    National Science and Media Museum. Bradford festival of 70mm, Cinerama and large-format film projection.
  • Prince Charles Cinema Paid (cinema tickets)
    Prince Charles Cinema. London cinema that regularly screens 35mm and 70mm prints.
  • NFTS short courses Paid (most £75–£1,000; bursaries on many)
    NFTS. Browse for cinematography, camera and lab-related short courses.

For learners and trainers

Train with us on a working unit

Every lesson is a free video by its original maker, played from YouTube with privacy-enhanced settings. Found a broken video? Email [email protected].